Kathy Pedersen Grant

Be the change you want to see in your community

Apply for the Kathy J. Pedersen Grant.

Kathy J. Pedersen Grant to Promote Equitable Care:

(2018 funding cycle now closed, next funding cycle will open in Spring 2019)

Kathy Pedersen, MPAS, PA-C, has dedicated her career to promoting equitable health care for all. This annual grant program equips PAs with up to $5,000 for projects that strive to follow in those footsteps. The grant supports innovative, actionable strategies that directly and sustainably impact public health needs. Grant applicants are challenged to design programs that bridge system gaps, advocate for the under served, or creatively develop resources for those in need. Certified PAs, PA organizations (accredited educational programs and constituent organizations), and PA students may apply. The funding cycle for this grant is now closed, but it will re-open in the spring of 2019. View this year’s RFP to get a head start and check back for the 2019 RFP!

The Kathy J. Pedersen Grant to Promote Equitable Care is administered and supported by the nccPA Health Foundation through a generous donation from Don and Kathy Pedersen.

Oral Health Treatment for the Children of Santiago

2018 Grant Recipient

Poor oral health can have a profound impact on general health and the quality of a person's life. Mayanza, Inc, the 2018 recipient of the Kathy J. Pedersen Grant to Promote Equitable Care, is a PA-led non-profit organization devoted to caring for underserved Mayan populations in Guatemala. Since 2016, Mayanza has engaged PAs, students, a local community health educator, and others to provide oral health training and education to the community. With this grant, Mayanza’s efforts will be expanded through an interprofessional partnership with a local dentist. Together, Mayanza and its partners will ensure a sustainable, culturally-competent, health initiative intended to improve overall health and quality of life in the community. In addition to directly impact patients, the grantees will collect clinical and attitudinal data to inform future efforts to address dental disease trends in the community. We can’t wait to see how they make a difference!

Healing Health Literacy at Two Urban Low-Income Clinics

2017 Grant Recipient

Limited health literacy is a modifiable barrier to high quality care. Marquette University PA Program, the 2017 Kathy J. Pedersen Grant to Promote Equitable Care recipient, implemented and evaluated the health literacy curriculum “HEAL” at two urban clinics serving low-income adults in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. PA faculty provided instruction and counseling on how to communicate about symptoms, diagnoses and treatment; how to interpret medical terminology and forms; and when to seek care at an emergency room. Forty course participants demonstrated gains in confidence of topic knowledge, although results were not statistically significant. However, all participants reported a high degree of satisfaction; and changes in health behaviors were observed. The project also impacted Marquette PA students and the medical staff at both clinics, more than 150 individuals, by increasing their awareness and providing training on how to address low health literacy among their patients. The grantees presented this initiative at the Wisconsin Academy of PAs conference and an abstract has been accepted for the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities conference.

Cynthia Bunde, MPAS, PA-C, of the Pocatello Free Clinic was the inaugural grantee. Her unique pilot program, Texting for Mental Health: A Case Management Approach, used texting as the foundation of case management for uninsured patients with mental health diagnoses. The PA-led program also utilized interdisciplinary partnerships including physician assistant, pharmacy, and social work students to deliver services in an underserved setting. Participants completed questionnaires regarding mood rating and perceived ability to manage their condition prior to and after completing a 12-week intervention. No-show rate was also evaluated. For all three indicators, participants showed a statistically significant improvement in factors related to mental health.

PSA: We are now on Instagram! Follow us @nccPAHealthFdn for some added positivity to your feed! It’s Children’s Dental Health Month! Teaching healthy oral hygiene at a young age sets up a future of bright smiles. Learn how you can provide oral health education in your community. February is American Heart Month. Death rates from heart disease are rising in those ages 35-64. Know the signs and symptoms of cardiac arrest and stroke.